Cyclops’Other Mutant Power Is How He Doesn’t Kill Himself
Although in the 21st century the comics formally introduced the idea of “Secondary Mutation”—a new ability beyond a Mutant’s original power, like Emma Frost’s diamond form or Beast’s more feline form—another aspect of Scott’s powers that is not considered a second ability, but is vital to him not blasting his own neck into pieces every time he opens his eyes, is a psionic field around his mind and body. The field—which is basically skin-close to Scott’s body, and can’t be manipulated or expanded to cover others—is attuned to the same forces that his eyes generate when opened, cancelling out energy blowback on himself and reflecting it back to its point of origin. The field’s potency is why even just closing his eyelids can stop Scott from constantly firing off blasts.
It also makes Scott invulnerable to the mutant powers of his brother Alex, aka Havok, whose plasma waves are negated by the psionic field around his body. This is not this case for his brother Gabriel, aka Vulcan, whose Omega-Level energy manipulation powers can still harm Scott (and even replicate his abilities).
